TRU Parent Daily Self Care Checklist

Between work, making meals, cleaning house, driving kids to all of their activities and everything else we do as parents, we need a break. We need to have time devoted to our own personal health and growth. We need to feel strong, healthy, relaxed and happy. When we do, everything else goes more smoothly.

We’ve all heard about how important it is to take care of yourself so that we can take care of our kids and loved ones. Why don’t we do it more consistently?

If you are like me and many, many other parents I’ve talked to, it’s simply because we are so busy caring for the other important people and things in our lives that we forget to take time to care for ourselves. If you, like so many other parents, believe that life and parenting is not about selfish “me time” but rather that parenting is about sacrifice and doing what is best for “them,” that’s great! It turns out that self care is not just about you. When you spend time priming and caring for yourself it allows you to be more present with your kids, respond in more effective, helpful ways and be more productive and happy in all areas of your life.

The awesome thing about self care is that it’s not about escaping to some remote part of the world for a month or about bubble baths. It’s about resetting your nervous system. It’s about laying foundations of positive feelings; feelings of hope, peace, love, strength, accomplishment and growth. It’s about being a force in your own life. TRU self care includes a healthy balance of both validating and improving. It allows for contentment with what is, while still challenging ourselves to grow.

The TRU Parenting Self-Care Checklist

Do something that you don’t want to do but know will benefit you.

Make your bed. Write in a journal. Do some yoga. Eat some broccoli. Finish that thing you’ve been putting off, whatever it is. Doesn’t matter what it is, just identify something you know if is good for you that you regularly put off, do it now and record what you did.

5 – 10 minutes of exercise.

I always tell people that come to me for counseling, especially seeking relief from depression or anxiety that if I could only tell people one thing it would be to exercise daily. There is piles of research that suggests that exercise has a multitude of physical, mental and emotional benefits. It is a a huge force multiplier that makes everything else in our lives better and/or easier.

5 – 10 minutes of learning something you want to learn.

You have so many avenues for learning these days. You can learn almost anything you want without any cost other than your time and effort. A couple years ago I learned how to change my alternator on my car from a Youtube video. You could learn pointless trivia, how to play an instrument, code, build a business, strengthen relationships or whatever else our heart desires.

5 – 10 minutes of meditation.

There are many different forms of meditation. Some prefer to pray, while others prefer guided imagery, progressive relaxation or some other kind of meditation. Simply focusing on our deep, deliberate breathe can be a relaxing meditation that can revive you and improve your sense of well being and ability to manage stress. If you need some help getting started with a daily meditation practice check out the TRU Calm Relaxation and Meditation Series, 10 min. guided meditations you can use anytime. Click HERE to Learn More.

10 – 15 minutes doing something fun.

Just play. Read a book. Go for a bike ride. Truly enjoy yourself!

10-15 minutes in positive, engaged, undistracted conversation or activity with someone you love.

This is where you put aside all of the distractions including our tech devices/phones and look the people you love in the eyes. Play with them, talk to them and completely engage in your connection and exchange with them.

Express gratitude and smile.

Write down a few things you are grateful for. Write a letter, call or text someone a thank you or just let someone in your interactions know something you are thankful for. Gratitude has immense power to brighten and lighten any day. It is one of the most encouraging forces in positive psychology to improve mood and enlighten resilient perspectives. The act of physically smiling also has incredible power to relieve stress and improve outlook and mood.

These 7 short daily tasks can provide immediate enjoyment and stress relief but the greatest benefit comes on the others end of completion. The real payoff comes exponentially over time as we consistently practice them.

The great thing about this checklist of self care tasks is that they are not some abstract routine or practice that are totally unrealistic in the context of our daily lives. These are things that fit perfectly into our day to day responsibilities and can simply enhance everything we do.

If you are not already doing these 6 things, I challenge you to give them a try for 3 weeks and notice how you feel and how your life changes.

Print this article out and use it as your daily self care checklist. Try is for a couple weeks and let us know how you feel and how it impacts your life!

http://www.lilbikers.com Sally

Informative checklist. Will try to follow them…

Stop Yelling Course

Get Your Quick Calm Toolkit FREE!

Do You and Your Kids Love Movies? Try This!

Audible is a great way for busy parents to learn on the go!

Andy Smithson, LMSW

The TRU Parenting Manifesto

Testimonials

TRU Parenting

"Andy Smithson provided an hour long seminar to our employees titled” TRU Parenting.” What a great presentation. TRU Parenting not only applied to parents but to all of us and in all aspects of our lives. Wow, I have heard so many positive comments from our employees. We even had one of our linemen, who is a young father, stay after to continue writing down thoughts and ideas that he gained from the presentation."

Penny West: Wellness Coordinator at United Electric

TRU Parenting

"Andy Smithson provided an hour long seminar to our employees titled” TRU Parenting.” What a great presentation. TRU Parenting not only applied to parents but to all of us and in all aspects of our lives. Wow, I have heard so many positive comments from our employees. We even had one of our linemen, who is a young father, stay after to continue writing down thoughts and ideas that he gained from the presentation."

Penny West: Wellness Coordinator at United Electric

TRU Parenting

"As an instructor, Andy is on top of his game. He really connected with the class! The learning experience was always helpful and exciting!"

Gary C., TRU Parenting class

TRU Parenting

"This was one of the best classes I have every been to! I loved how we were able to be interactive in asking questions and actively participated in the learning process."

Cheryl C., TRU Parenting class member

TRU Parenting

"I really enjoyed the combined approach of the many topics that were covered. The class offered many techniques that could I could use right now. I feel like I am a better parent for having participated!"

Miriam, Head Start employee and TRU Parenting class member

TRU Parenting

"I had never really stopped and thought about some of the things I learned in TRU Parenting. It made me think. I have new expectations for my parenting. My eyes are wide open!"

Chris, TRU Parenting class member

TRU Parenting

"This class finally taught me to be more quiet with my children and gave me the power to not overreact."

Jessica, TRU Parenting class member

TRU Parenting

"I learned what to to do instead of what not to do. I feel empowered to continue building relationships with my children even when I have to discipline them."

Elizabeth R, TRU Parenting Class member

TRU Parenting

"I really appreciated the direct help Andy offered us. He really cared about what was happening in my family!"

Roxana D, TRU Parenting Class Member

TRU Parenting

"Since TRU Parenting, I have a stronger relationship with my children."

Aime C, TRU Parenting Class Member

TRU Parenting

"I feel like I can parent with love rather than anger. TRU Parenting gave me inspiration and tools to really parent out of love."

Cheryl, TRU Parenting client

TRU Parenting

"I'm learning how to not give up on bettering myself and building stronger relationships with my children!"

Jessica, TRU Parenting client

TRU Parenting

"I really enjoy the little moments now."

Miriam S, TRU Parenting client

TRU Parenting

"I look forward to learning a lot from you! Thank you for the wonderful resource you are providing families! Such life-changing information!"

Rachel Macy Stafford from www.handsfreemama.comWhat are people saying about our ebook?

"I look forward to learning a lot from you! Thank you for the wonderful resource you are providing families! Such life-changing information!" (Rachel Macy Stafford from www.handsfreemama.com)"I look forward to learning a lot from you! Thank you for the wonderful resource you are providing families! Such life-changing information!"